St John's Church, St John's in the Vale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John's Church, St John's in the Vale |
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St John's Church, St John's in the Vale, from the north
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| OS grid reference | NY 307 225 |
| Location | St John's in the Vale, Cumbria |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Churchmanship | Central churchmanship |
| Website | St John's in the Vale |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 3 March 1967 |
| Architect(s) | Paley, Austin and Paley (reordering) |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Completed | 1845 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Slate and igneous rock, with galleting, Slate roof |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St. John's in the Vale and Wyburn |
| Deanery | Derwent |
| Archdeaconry | West Cumberland |
| Diocese | Carlisle |
| Province | York |
St John's Church is a special old church located in a beautiful valley called St John's in the Vale, in Cumbria, England. It's an active Anglican parish church, which means it's part of the Church of England and serves the local community. This church is officially recognized as a Grade II Listed building, meaning it's an important historical building.
Contents
A Look Back: Church History
The church building you see today was built in 1845. It replaced an even older church that stood in the same spot. Some parts of the first church were used again in the new building.
Later, in 1893, the inside of the church was changed and updated. This work was done by a famous group of architects from Lancaster called Paley, Austin and Paley. Many of the cool things you can see inside the church today were put there during this update.
What the Church Looks Like
St John's Church is built from strong materials like slate and a type of stone called igneous rock. Some parts have a special finish called galleting, which means small stones are pressed into the mortar. The roof is also made of green slate.
The church has a simple shape. It has a long main hall called a nave and a special area near the altar called a chancel, all in one section. There's a small tower at the west (back) end of the church and a porch on the north side where people enter.
The windows along the sides of the church have two sections of glass. The large window at the east (front) end has three sections. The tower has two openings for bells and a top edge that looks like a castle wall, called a battlement.
Inside the Church
Inside, you'll see an open wooden roof. The altar, which is the table used for services, was designed by a famous architect named George Gilbert Scott. It was moved to St John's Church in 1848 from another church nearby.
Some of the wooden panels inside the church were also moved here in 1893. They used to be part of old-fashioned box pews (like small enclosed seating areas) in another church. The pulpit, where the priest gives sermons, and the rails around the sanctuary (the sacred area near the altar) are very old, from the 1700s. They also came from a different church.
You can also find a carved Royal coat of arms for King George III inside. There are also memorial tablets from 1774 and 1853, which are like plaques remembering people. The beautiful stained glass in the east window was made in 1895 by a company called Shrigley and Hunt.
Want to Learn More?
- List of works by Paley, Austin and Paley
